Tape-applying machine



Mrch 5, 1963 c. s. LARKIN TAPE-APPLYING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 5, 1959 March 5, 1963 c. s. LARKIN TAPEAPPLYING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1959 w W A yw lizavezzifzzr C Gillan]; LIZ) United rates Patent Ufifice Eaten-ted Mar. d, 1333 33379373 TAPE-APPLYENG MACE-ENE Cyril Stanley Lin-kin, Borehamvvood, England, assigns: to Adhesive Tapes Limited, hristol, England Filed Nov. 5, 1959, Ser. No. SSLiliI-l Claims priority, Great Piritain Nov. 6, 1953 5 Claims. (6i. 156-453) This invention relates to machines for applying pres sure-sensitive adhesive tape (hereinafter referred to simply as tape) in the form of a U to a carton or like cuboid article. Such machines, generally known as U-sealers, comprise a guide means for the carbon such as a table top or guide rails or are mounted alongside a conveyor for cartons to be sealed, and incorporate a retractable tape-applying member for applying the end portion of tape, withdrawn from a reel thereof, to the advancing face of a carton. As the carton moves past the tapeapplying member, isplaced by engagement with said face, tape is applied along a side face. Finally the tape is pressed against the retreating face of the carton by a presser member which may be the same as the tapeapplying member, and cut. The cut in some machines of this kind is made before the trailing end portion is wrapped round the rear edge of the canton, especially with so-called shallow U-sealers.

One object of this invention is to provide an extremely simple machine of the kind referred to which can nevertheless be made robust, reliable and with an efficient presser member.

The invention consists in a U-sealer comprising a presser member for applying a severed rear end portion of tape to the retreating face of a carton carried on a slidably mounted arm pivotally connected to a retractable tapepplying member.

The arm may be mounted for rectilinear movement and connected to the tape-applying member by way of a slot and pin mechanism, so as to follow the retreating face of a carton and also traverse :the portion of this face to be taped when the tape-applying member is released from its retracted position. Preferably, however, the arm is mounted in a slideway permitting a swinging as 'ell as a sliding movement and is pivotally connected to the tape-applying member without the aforesaid slot.

The tape-applying member may be carried on a mount pivotally attached to a frame and the arm may be directly pivoted thereto. The mount may incorporate a finger extending alongside but projecting past the tapeapplying member, for engagement by the side face of a carton being taped to release the tape-applying member when the rear face of the carton has moved a predetermined distance past this member. Alternatively the release of the tape-applying member may be occasioned by the rear edge of the carton disengaging from the press-er member. A return spring may be fitted at any convenient position, for example to the mount for the tape-applying member.

For severing the tape adjacent the tape-applying memher and so provide for the initial taping of the next carton and also to provide a trailing end portion of tape for pressing up the retreating face of the carton being taped, a spring-loaded knife will normally be employed, arranged to be cocked (primed) and released by the carton or a conveyor member for the same by engagement with a suitably disposed finger extending-from a mount for the This finger may extend parallel to the firstrnentioned finger, at the opposite side of the ta e-applying member and in this case will be of shorter length to ensure that the tape is out before the presser member is eleased.

The presser member will normally be in the form of a roller. The tape-applying member will normally be in the form of a plate.

The invention will be described further with reference.

to the accompanying drawings of which:

FiG-URE 1 is a side view of an arrangement for applying a shallow U-seal,

FIGURE 2 is a front view corresponding to FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view corresponding to FIGURE 1,

FEGURE 3a is a fragmental plan view showing on an enlarged scale the tape-applying member, the U-shaped rentention finger, and the roller which extends across the front face of the tape-applying member,

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic side view of an alternative arrangement.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-3, a pathway 1 for a package 2 is shown diagrammatically, the package being propelled manually or mechanically to the right. .A tapeapplying member 3 is carried on a bell crank lever 4 pivotally mounted to a side frame plate 5 about a pivot axis 6. A return spring 7 biases the lever to a position in which the tape-applying member 3 lies in the path of packages moving along pathway 1. Also carried on lever 4 is an mm 3 on which is pivoted a U-shaped retention finger 3 (FIG. 3a) for anchoring pressure-sensitive adhesive tape against the face of member 3. The latter and also arm 3 are pivotally mounted on lever 4 and are spring urged to a forward position in which, as shown in FIGURE 1, the tape-applying member 3 projects slightly beyond the front edge of lever 4-, While the arm 8 assumes a more advanced position in which it is held by the finger 9 becoming locked about the edge of member 3. In this position the forward edge 1 of the finger 9 presses against the front face of member 3 as seen best in FEGURE 2.

Pressurosensitive adhesive tape 13 is furnished by a roll 11 thereof mounted on a support 12, the tape 13 passing with its adhesive face against a knurled guide roller 14 and then up in front of member 3 where, as already explained, it is anchored in position by the leading edge It} of the U-shaped finger 9.

Separately pivoted to the side plate 5 by a spindle i5 is a knife arm 16 carrying a cutting blade 17 biased upwardly by a return spring 18a.

Also separately pivoted to the frame member 5 is an rm is carrying a follower or presser roller 19. This 18 is pivoted as aforesaid by a stud 2t upstanding plate 5 and passing through an extended slot 2- 1 in a m 10. Arm 213 can slide smoothly relative to the stud 25 for the length of the slot .21. At its forward end arm 18 is pivoted at 22 to the bell crank lever 4; a stop 23 is positioned on the inside face of plate 5 so as to be engaged by roller 1% at the limit of he permitted retraction of the arm 18 under the influence of return spring 7. Correspondingly, a roller 24 is mounted on a wire 25 to engage and extend across the front face of member 3 below retention finger 9 when the linkage system is fully advanced as just mentioned. This roller serves to prevent the leading end portion of pressuresensitive adhesive tape, which is presented by member 3 to an advancing package, from folding over downwards under the inihence of gravity as a result of being clipped only at one edge. The wire 25 is secured to a plate 5 at 26 and is suitably bent at 7 1 to avoid fouling the arm 3. This position in a fore and after direction is adiusted as necessary by bending the wire 25 and/ or by swinging the wire around position 25, the position of the roller 24 in an upward or downward direction in relation to the front face of the member 3 not being particularly critical.

In operation, a package advanced along the pathway It strikes the arm 8 which correspond ngly retracts with aevaevv 3 concomitant swinging movement and retraction of the leading edge of :the finger 9 from in front of the tapeapplying member 3. On further movement of the package its front face comes into engagement with pressuresensitive adhesive tape which is lying against member 3. It will be understood that, in the short interval of time between the retraction of finger 9 and the engagement of the package against the tape, the latter, although no longer held up by the finger 9, will not have had any opportunity to collapse downwardly. By continued progress of the pack-age in a direction to the right as seen in FIGURE 1, and as a result of the package strikmg the upwardly directed extremity of lever 4, this lever is rotated clockwise, the tape-applying member 3 retracting and becoming aligned with the base of the package; at the same time, because of the pivotal connection 22, the arm 1% is pulled downwardly and to the left so that the follower roller or presser member19 is displaced to a starting position in whichit is aligned with the base of the package 2. Continued movement of the package causes the pressure=sensitive adhesive tape to be pulled from the roller 11 and wiped by member 3 along the underside of the package. While this is taking place, the leading edge of the package engages the knife arm 16, depressing this and thereby cocking or priming the knife 17. When on'continued movement the rear trailing edge of the package 2 clears the tip of arm 16, the latter springs up as shown in FIGURE 1 and the tape is severed at this stage to define a trailing edge still attached'to the package and a fresh leading edge for a new taping operation. of the member 3 which is held retracted by engagement of the under face of the carton against the retracted roller 19. Assoon as this latter roller is cleared by the trailing edge of the package it springs upwardly and forwardly from its starting position to press the trailing edge into position by riding up the retreating face of the package; at the same time the member 3 swings back towards its starting position as shown in FIGURE 1. is cleared by the package earlier than the roller 19, so that said arm is enabled to spring forward under the influence of its return spring and cause the U-shaped retention finger 9 to clip the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape on to the-face of member 3. This occur-sbefore the release of theknife 17, so ensuring that the fresh leading edge of the tape is taut in its anchored position.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, a pathway 53 for package 54 is shown diagrammatically, the package being propelled, manually or mechanically, :to the right. A tape-applying member 55 is carried on an L-shaped lever 55 mounted on a'spindle 57 turnably supported in a side frame plate or portion P and a return spring 58 biases the lever to a position in which, as shown, member 55 is in the path of package 54. Also carried on lever 56 is an arm 59 fitted with a spike 6i registering with a hole in member 55, passing through the hole when the arm 59 is in'a forward position and thereby supporting in place the free end of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 61. This tape extends from a roll thereof, mounted on a suitable support, not shown, past guide roller 62 and nonretu-rn roller 63 on lever 56. The end of the latter on therearward side of spindle 57 (in the direction of package travel) is pivoted to a support arm 64 which passes through a slideway 65, defined by raised rollers 73, pivoted to the side plate P about axis 66, and terminates in a follower roller 67.

Separately pivoted to the side plate P by a spindle 68 is a knife arm 69 carrying a cutting blade 76 and said arm biases upwardly by a return spring 71. In addition, arm 69carried a projection 72. a

In operation, package 54 strikes arm 59 and pushes it rearwards so withdrawing spike 60 from tape 61. Then the leading face of the package engages the adhesive The fresh leading edge lies over the face The arm 8 4 face of tape 61 where it is resting against the upper part of member 55, and so becomes attached to it. Continned movement of the package causes lever 56 to be swung round clockwise about spindle 57 against the pull of spring 58, tape being applied by member 55 to the front and then to the lower face of the package. At the same time arm 64 is pulled to the left, with turning of slideway 65', by lever 56, and follower roller 67 is accordingly primed. Knife arm 6% is next depressed, to be released when the package has passed by. At this stage the package is still holding lever 56 down, and when knife arm 69 is released to out the tape, projection 72 strikes arm 59 causing spike 60* to penetrate the tape which is overlying the tape-applying member 55 and anchor the tape in position. Finally, the package clears lever es and roller 67, which latter rides up the retreating rear face of the package wiping down the remaining portion of tape, and falls back to the position shown in FIGURE 4. It will be noted that the tape-applying. member is not in an over-centre position relative to spindle 57, so that there is some degree of lifting of member 55 at the beginning of a tape-applying operation. The effect of this is that somewhat more tape is withdrawn initially than required for taping the package, and succeeding tapingoperations start with the tape slack.

I claim:

1. A U-sealer comprising a frame portion, a retract-.

able tape applying member, a presser member for applying a severed rear end portion of tape to the retreating face of a carton being taped, an arm carrying said presser member, mounting means slidably attaching said arm to said frame portion, and connecting means pivotally linking said tape applying. member and arm to displace the presser member to a starting position by retraction of the tape applying member, from which position the presser member can ride up said face at the end of a taping operation, by sliding movement of said arm.

2. A U -sealer comprising a frame portion, a retractable tape-applying member supported by said frame portion, a presser member for completing the application of a U-forrn seal to a carton, an arm carrying said presser member, pivotal linkage means linking said arm to said tape applying member to be primed upon retraction of said tape-applying member, and means on said frame portion defining a slideway through which said arm passes whereby said arm and presser member may be retracted and extended slidably relative to said frame portion in accordance with the displacement and advance of said tape applying member.

3. A U-sealer as defined in claim 2 including. means pivotally mounting said'slideway defining means on said frameportion.

4. A U-sealer as defined in claim 2 wherein said slideway defining means includes rollers positioned on up posite sides of said arm whereby said arm may have rectilinear movement.

5. A U-sealer comprising a frame portion, a retractable tape-applying member supp'orted' by said frame portion, a presser member for applying a severed rear endportion of tape to the retreating face of a carton being taped, an arm carrying saidpresser member, said arm being slotted, pin means attached to said frame portion and engaged in the slot of said arm, and pivotal linkage means linking said arm to said tape-applying member to prime said arm and presser member by sliding retraction thereof on retraction of said tape-applying member.

References Cited in the die of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,052,903 Stagmeier Sept. 1, 1936 2,630,933 Charles Mar. 10, 1953 2,799,419 Scheib July 16, 1957 

1. A U-SEALER COMPRISING A FRAME PORTION, A RETRACTABLE TAPE APPLYING MEMBER, A PRESSER MEMBER FOR APPLYING A SEVERED REAR END PORTION OF TAPE TO THE RETREATING FACE OF A CARTON BEING TAPED, AN ARM CARRYING SAID PRESSER MEMBER, MOUNTING MEANS SLIDABLY ATTACHING SAID ARM TO SAID FRAME PORTION, AND CONNECTING MEANS PIVOTALLY LINKING SAID TAPE APPLYING MEMBER AND ARM TO DISPLACE THE PRESSER MEMBER TO A STARTING POSITION BY RETRACTION OF THE TAPE APPLYING MEMBER, FROM WHICH POSITION THE PRESSER MEMBER CAN RIDE UP SAID FACE AT THE END OF A TAPING OPERATION, BY SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM. 